Walk in the Light

May 28, 2023

May 28th, 2023

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Psalms 66-68

Highlight Verses:

“Shout joyful praises to God, all the earth! Sing about the glory of his name! Tell the world how glorious he is.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭66‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Shout, sing, tell. Which is it?

To which you reply “all three”.

If you were to shout joyful praises to God in the church I grew up in, they would probably kindly escort you to the mental health facility of your choice.

At the church I attend now, you could shout and no one would hear you above the sound of the worship band.

Which one is right?

I don’t know about the mental health facility but there is something to be said for quiet contemplative worship.

On the other hand, many find their way to the heart of worship through uninhibited loud praise and worship.

Personally, I like both in their times.

The important thing is to bring God the praise due Him.

Today and this week, as I am away from home, the worship will be different from what I am used to, but I will bring my whole heart to it.

What king of worship do you prefer?
Are you able to worship with your whole heart in styles that you are not used to?
May 27, 2023

May 27th, 2023

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Joshua 4:1-9

Highlight Verse:

“We will use these stones to build a memorial. In the future your children will ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’”
‭‭Joshua‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Several years ago on this weekend, I was visiting Washington, DC and found myself in Arlington Cemetery. There was a general flow toward the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. I followed the crowd and ended up in the amphitheater listening to a Memorial Day speech from the President.

While he was not the person I voted for, I found myself agreeing with him as he expressed the country’s gratitude for all the people who gave their lives for our freedom. He made sure that they were remembered for their sacrifice.

Today’s passage shows how Joshua memorialized God’s participation in bringing Israel into the Promised Land. He wanted to be sure the people did not forget God after they settled in the land.

We would do well to remember God’s role throughout history, the role of those who gave their lives for our freedom, and especially the sacrifice that Jesus made for our spiritual freedom!

Has Memorial Day become just an excuse to barbecue and take a day off work?
How will you remember those who sacrificed for your freedom?
May 26, 2023

May 26th, 2023

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Isaiah 61-63

Highlight Verse:

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭61‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

These are the words that Jesus read in a synagogue in Luke 4. When Jesus confirmed that the words were spoken about Him, the Jews turned on him and tried to throw Him over a cliff. I don’t think they were convinced that He was the Messiah.

Today, relatively few practicing Jews believe there will even be a Messiah.

Among all the world’s population, people who believe that Jesus is the Messiah are a small minority.

This verse by itself is enough to sadden me at that fact. The things that they miss out on!

He brings joys in the midst of poverty.

There is no greater healer from hurt than Jesus.

There is no one at all besides Jesus who can free us from the bonds of sin.

And those are just what this verse mentions. How rich are the mercies and blessings Jesus brings!

What has trusting in Jesus blessed you with?
If you haven’t trusted in Jesus, what’s holding you back?
May 25, 2023

May 25th, 2023

Thursday – Letters

Reading – 1 Corinthians 9-10

Highlight Verse:

“Yet preaching the Good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn’t preach the Good News!”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭9‬:‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I like Paul’s attitude in this chapter. He’s all in. He doesn’t want money or pride to come in the way of making the Gospel known.

What if everyone who was called to preach and teach approached it with this fervor?

The world would be a different place!

Paul was a true missionary, going to lands that had never heard the Gospel while raising his own support.

To him, it could be no other way.

Which are you more interested in pursuing – A life of comfort or a life where the highest priority is making the Gospel known?
May 24, 2023

May 24th, 2023

Wednesday – History

Reading – 1 Samuel 1-2

Highlight Verse:

““Why are you crying, Hannah?” Elkanah would ask. “Why aren’t you eating? Why be downhearted just because you have no children? You have me—isn’t that better than having ten sons?””
‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭1‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

If you don’t think God has a sense of humor, read this again!

But then I realize that I can be like Elkanah.

I get so focused on myself and my situations that I don’t understand when things aren’t going well for those around me.

But God listened to Hannah. He answered her prayer. He provided.

Through Hannah, God provided Israel with Samuel. Samuel led Israel through a crucial time in its history including the anointing of King David.

Are you like Hannah? Can you trust God to provide when you cry out for help?
Are you like Elkanah? Can you opened your eyes and ears to try to understand how your loved ones are feeling?
May 23, 2023

May 23rd, 2023

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Genesis 35-36

Highlight Verses:

“Now that Jacob had returned from Paddan-aram, God appeared to him again at Bethel. God blessed him, saying, “Your name is Jacob, but you will not be called Jacob any longer. From now on your name will be Israel.” So God renamed him Israel.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭35‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

In many cultures, a person is renamed upon a major life event. In Islam, it is common for a person to take a new name as a statement of faith. In most places, a spouse will often take a new last name upon marriage. Usually, an child will take a new last name upon adoption.

In Jacob’s case, his new title, meaning “the Lord fights” replaced his original title of “deceiver” to reflect a change in character when Israel stepped into the promised land.

When we turn to Jesus and accept His new life and forgiveness, we are given a new title – that of child of the King. Royalty!

That gives us certain rights and responsibilities.

It is the right of every child of God to tell Satan what he can go do with himself.

It is the right of every child of God to walk in joy.

It is the responsibility of every child of God to follow where He leads and bring others with us.

Are you listening to God’s name for you or the one that Satan would have you believe?
Are you acting as if God’s name for you is accurate?”
May 22, 2023

May 22nd, 2023

Monday – Gospels

Reading – Mark 3-4

Highlight Verse:

“Jesus used many similar stories and illustrations to teach the people as much as they could understand.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭4‬:‭33‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Whenever people ask me why I write fiction instead of non-fiction (besides this Bible study), I point to Jesus.

He made up stories all the time that went a long way toward making the Gospel clear to people.

When I teach youth, I almost always start with a story and sprinkle one or two more in through the message to keep their attention. They are usually true stories but told like I were a narrator in a book. When told well, you should see the looks on their faces especially when I get to the intense parts.

The stories I tell in my books are sometimes true stories adapted for the characters. Sometimes I make them up out of thin air. Either way, they capture the reader’s attention and bring the book to life for them. The subtle messages presented in my novels come out through the stories.

So, when that story of something that happened in your life or something you made up that may be amusing or suspenseful, write it down.

Your stories can positively affect the lives of others.

Conversely, if you’re spending your time reading stories that discourage or taint your thought life, I would encourage you to realize that those stories have influence on you and are best left behind.

Do you have a story that needs to be shared?
Are there stories you read that have a negative impact on you?
May 21, 2023

May 21st, 2023

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Psalms 62-65

Highlight Verse:

“Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭62‬:‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

There’s a sign in front of a church on Federal Boulevard in Denver that says,

“You are God’s novel. Let Him write it.”

As a novelist, I can appreciate that.

When I write, I generally let my characters do what they want. That is, I try to be consistent with the characteristics I assigned to them.

Let me tell you, they don’t always do the best thing.

I know the overview of the story and how I intend the end to be, but the characters don’t know that so they act on what they know with their characteristics.

God knows the big story of each of our lives.

Yet He lets us make our own decisions and live out our own lives. More often than not, we’ll make our decision according to our own predispositions rather than God’s will.

We would do well to listen to Him as He shows us the way.

Do you have troubles figuring out what God wants us to do?
Is it difficult for you to do what God wants me to do?
May 20, 2023

May 20th, 2023

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Acts 8:26-39

Highlight Verse:

“As for Philip, an angel of the Lord said to him, “Go south down the desert road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza.””
‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭8‬:‭26‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Phillip is among those who had recently been kicked out of Jerusalem for following Jesus. This drove Phillip first to Samaria where he saw many Samaritan’s find faith in Jesus.

Then came this odd command from the Lord. “Go down the desert road.”

I don’t know about you but a walk in the desert would not be my first choice, especially if I was eager to share the Gospel.

But that’s exactly where God wanted Philip.

In the midst of the heat and dust, God put Philip in the exact spot where he could speak to an important Ethiopian.

History records that the church in Ethiopia likely traces its roots back to this very meeting. In fact, Ethiopia is the only country in that region that remained primarily Christian when Islam swept through that area. Today two-thirds of the population identifies as Christian.

All because Philip obeyed a rather odd request from God.

God may have you on a desert road.

Your life may not have gone according to your plans. That doesn’t mean that you’re not smack dab in the middle of God’s plans for you.

If you are open to being used by God in whatever way he chooses, the results may blow you away.

How have you seen God use you along the “desert road” of your life?
Are you open to sacrificing comfort to do God’s will?

Bonus:

Here’s Casting Crowns new song “Desert Road” – the idea of which came from this passage.
May 19, 2023

May 19th, 2023

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Isaiah 58-60

Highlight Verses:

““No, this is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people. Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭58‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

In the prior verses, Isaiah talks about people fasting to impress people or to appear good. Not very good reasons to fast.

Instead, Isaiah offers a very practical approach to fasting.

In the context of that culture, Isaiah is saying fasting is to be able to share your resources with others.

I know there are other Biblical forms of fasting that Jesus modeled for us, but Isaiah’s type of fasting has piqued my interest.

What would be the effect if everyone took one day a month, fasted, and took the money they would have spent on food and used it to help others?

My best guess is that we would live in a different, better world.

I will admit that we don’t do that, but we do take more than the equivalent of a day’s groceries and support 3 children through Compassion International. If we fasted, maybe we could do more. We’ll have to think about that?

Have you considered supporting needy people either through Compassion or some other ministry?
If you are doing that, how has that affected your life?

The important thing is to bring God the praise due Him.

We would do well to remember God’s role throughout history, the role of those who gave their lives for our freedom, and especially the sacrifice that Jesus made for our spiritual freedom!

He brings joys in the midst of poverty.

There is no greater healer from hurt than Jesus.

There is no one at all besides Jesus who can free us from the bonds of sin.

What if everyone who was called to preach and teach approached it with this fervor?

If you don’t think God has a sense of humor, read this again!

But God listened to Hannah. He answered her prayer. He provided.

When we turn to Jesus and accept His new life and forgiveness, we are given a new title – that of child of the King. Royalty!

Whenever people ask me why I write fiction instead of non-fiction (besides this Bible study), I point to Jesus.

Your stories can positively affect the lives of others.

“You are God’s novel. Let Him write it.”

God knows the big story of each of our lives.

We would do well to listen to Him as He shows us the way.

But that’s exactly where God wanted Philip.

If you are open to being used by God in whatever way he chooses, the results may blow you away.

Instead, Isaiah offers a very practical approach to fasting.